We are traveling to Ireland mid-August and will have 13 full days there. I had planned on flying into Dublin and renting a car ad leaving right away, heading south to the Powerscourt Gardens, then on to Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel. I planned on spending a night or two in Waterford but also want to stay a night or two in Kinsale and visit the surrounding area. The plan was to head then to Kenmare and do the Ring of Kerry counterclockwise. After that, a must see (and stay) is Dingle. I would like to spend two nights there. I need to travel to Abbeyfeale in Limerick county as I may have relatives there. I would like to take the ferry and drive to the Clifs and onto Galway and then back to Dublin where we would spend two days and nights (getting rid of our car) and fly out of Dublin. This may be too ambitious and I have been told to skip the Ring. Also, I am wondering if I should spend my two days/nights in Dublin at the beginning of the trip and fly out of Shannon. Help! I need to make my plane reservations tomorrow.
Linda
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Some thoughts:
I only count eight nights in your proposed plan. Where do you plan to spend the other three?
Flying into Dublin and out of Shannon would save you time in circling back to Dublin, but you could do it either way. Flying into Shannon and out of Dublin would make it easier to get used to driving on the other side of the road, if this is your first time.
I don't think this is too ambitious for a 13-day trip. We have done essentially the same trip in fewer days (but it would have been nice to have had more time). Perhaps you could post a more detailed itinerary and we could help you sort out a route.
Why do you need to make reservations so quickly when you aren't traveling until August?
Posted by
OP
Chesterfield, MO, USA
4 posts
I was going to spend a couple of nights in Kilkenny, maybe one in Kenmare and one in Abbeyfeale (my grandparents birthplace). I have FF miles that expire tomorrow night at midnight and I need all of them for a free ticket.
Thanks for the advice.
Linda
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Kilkenny and Waterford are very close together (about an hour from one to the other). And Dingle and Abbeyfeale are only an hour apart, too. Once you get past the airfare purchase you might want to look at where you want to go and rearrange your stops so you can see other areas.
Posted by
Madison, WI, USA
43 posts
If you have the option, I would also suggest flying into Shannon, and then departing from Dublin. It is pretty easy to adjust to the driving when leaving Shannon (we just did it a few weeks ago)
Also you wont have as long of a drive back to dublin if you reverse the itinerary.
Posted by
Poulsbo, WA, USA
147 posts
I like it except Waterford. Not much going on there. Maybe a sidetrip to Dunmore East for a day and night - recommend rainbow inn Mary Nagle, nice lady, good rooms. Kinsale is a nice stop, Kilkenny is worth a couple days
Posted by
OP
Chesterfield, MO, USA
4 posts
Thanks to all. I bought my tickets and I am flying into Dublin, spending a couple of nights there and then head south. NOw I need to decide where I am stopping along the way. Dingle is a must (at least two nights) and I need to go to Abbeyfeale. I am flying out of Shannon. I will be picking everyone's brains between not and August!
Linda
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Don't plan on picking up your rental car until you are ready to leave Dublin. Parking is difficult to find and/or expensive, and the traffic is horrible.